Jack Rodwell’s £70,000 per week contract. Who is really to blame?

Paul Reid

Jack Rodwell is still only 27 years old. Normally the time where a player is reaching his prime. The Sunderland midfielder made a total of 2 league appearances this season. One less appearance than his total number of England caps. Rodwell is also earning £70,000 per week in the Championship. £70,000 for a player Chris Coleman said last weekend that “he didn’t know where is, mentally or physically”. The post-mortem has already begun after Sunderland’s relegation. One question for everyone associated with the club should be asking is “who is responsible for the Jack Rodwell fiasco?”

Winston Bogarde 2.0

Rodwell signed for Sunderland in 2014 for £10M and the club gave him a 5 year contract worth 70K per week. For a player with a horrendous injury and fitness record, Rodwell wasn’t wrong to accept the exorbitant long-term offer. Gus Poyet and Ellis Short royally f*cked up.

Fast forward 4 years and the Ex-Man City player is seemingly ready to sit out the last year of his contract. According to fans, when Rodwell does make the starting line-up, he’s lethargic and disinterested. Just like Winston Bogarde sitting out his lucrative contract all those years ago at Chelsea, can the player be held responsible for securing their financial future?